Sandalwood is a rare and highly valuable tree native to parts of Eastern Africa, including Kenya, and is widely known for its distinctive fragrance and fine-grained yellow wood that can retain scent for decades.
The tree, known scientifically as Osyris lanceolata, has long been sought after for its aromatic oils used in perfumes, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. Its value on the global market has made it one of the most targeted species by illegal loggers across the region.
Beyond Africa, sandalwood grows naturally in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, and several Pacific islands, where it has deep cultural and spiritual significance.
In Kenya, the tree carries different names across communities the Kamba call it Munyungamai or Kithawa, the Kikuyu refer to it as Muthithii, the Mbeere as Mutero, and the Maasai as Olosesiyet. Among the Samburu, it is traditionally believed that tying sandalwood leaves around a newborn’s neck brings good fortune and protection.
Why Sandalwood Became a Target
The global demand for sandalwood oil, used in high-end perfumes, incense, and therapeutic products, has led to widespread illegal harvesting in Kenya and other African countries.
According to a report by the former Director of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Dr. Ben N. Chikamai, the uncontrolled exploitation of the tree became alarming due to its uprooting nature.
“The mode and scale of harvesting has made the tree locally endangered, which threatens not only the survival of the species but also the sustainability of the trade,” he noted.
Dr. Chikamai warned that traders often uproot entire trees instead of cutting branches, destroying the plant’s ability to regenerate and further reducing its population in the wild.
Ecological and Cultural Value
Apart from its commercial importance, sandalwood plays a key role in maintaining environmental balance. It contributes to soil and water conservation, improves soil fertility, and supports biodiversity. Environmentalists also say the tree enhances resilience to climate change by stabilizing dryland ecosystems.
Communities that traditionally relied on sandalwood for rituals, medicine, or shade are now witnessing its decline, threatening both cultural heritage and local livelihoods.
Kenya’s Ban and International Protection
In response to the growing threat, the Kenyan government moved to protect the species. In February 2007, a Gazette Notice declared sandalwood a protected tree species, effectively banning its harvesting, transportation, and trade for five years.
Despite the ban, illegal extraction continued, driven by lucrative black-market demand. Enforcement challenges, vast forest coverage, and limited surveillance allowed traffickers to smuggle sandalwood across borders into Tanzania and Uganda for export.
In 2013, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) officially listed East African sandalwood as an endangered species, placing tighter controls on its international trade.
The classification meant that Kenya and other East African countries were obligated to regulate, monitor, and report any trade involving the tree to prevent its extinction.
A Battle Against Extinction
Conservationists continue to warn that the species faces extinction if current trends persist. They argue that reforestation efforts must be scaled up and local communities engaged in sustainable management practices.
Government agencies have also called for stiffer penalties for illegal loggers and increased public awareness about the importance of protecting endangered tree species.
While some pilot projects have been launched to grow sandalwood under controlled conditions for commercial use, experts caution that it will take years before such efforts can meet global demand sustainably.
For now, Kenya’s ban remains in force, and security agencies are on high alert to stop poaching and trafficking of the rare and valuable tree a symbol of both nature’s beauty and humanity’s struggle to protect it from exploitation.
